Two Wrecks at Timaru May 1882

Timaru Herald, 15 April 1882, Page 3 THE STEAM TUG.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMARU HERALD. Sir, Many people wonder how the members of
the Harbor Board can rest in their beds of a night whilst the grave question of a
protective steam tug remains in abeyance. To those who know the history of the
port of Timaru and recall to mind such dreadful tragedies as the wreck of the
Akbar, it does seem startling that men can quietly give themselves up to the
seductions of the circumlocution office, when at any moment the elements may
repeat themselves with a tenfold opportunity. The members of the Harbor Board
would then, along with ourselves, run the risk of once more powerlessly looking
on, not only at the destruction of paltry wood and iron on the Ninety-mile
Beach, but perhaps again once more behold the bruised and shattered bodies of
men and women cast on that pitiless shingle and brought into town on expresses
to await a coroner's inquest. I am, &c., TIMARU.

The ocean rollers came in with their might and fury; the crowd of idlers who gathered on the beach in the morning to watch the
magnificent effects of the surf, soon became witnesses and actors on an exciting
scene of shipwreck, attended by some loss of life. -
Otago Witness

Ben Venue on the beach &
City of
Perth afloat.

The spectacle of tragedy, it is said, purifies the soul with pity. One can well believe that to look on self-devotion like that which sent the Timaru
boatmen to their death must -for the moment, at least- cleanse the meaner feelings out of any
man's breast. The lives lost were all heroically offered to death at the call of duty and humanity. No
coward died at Timaru. They went out in the face of certain
danger. -
Otago Witness

"Benvenue"
Monument
"Greater love hath no man than this. That a man lay down his life for his
friends."

This Monument is raised to
commemorate generous and noble self-sacrifice of those who gladly encountered the perils
of death in the heroic endeavour to save their fellow men on Sunday the 14th May 1882 when
the "City of Perth and the Benvenue" were wrecked at Timaru.

Timaru Herald, 27 May 1882, Page 2
The Dunedin Echo, referring to the late wrecks at Timaru, says : " One
lesson we may draw from the catastrophe. Heroism is found amongst the workers.
One has not to go to wars or battles to find true heroes. The men who risked and
those who lost their lives at Timaru were true heroes. At the shrine of duty
they sacrificed themselves, and we hope some effort will be made on behalf of
those they have left behind them to show that the people of the colony know how
to value ouch services as they performed. Captain Mills, exhausted by anxiety
and work, brought ashore to die, surely shows what a brave man will do in the
performance of his duty. He showed that true courage can be manifested in doing
Harbor Master's duty. Yes; truer courage than is shown by many military leader.
We hope, we repeat, that if these brave men have left behind them some who will
miss the bread-winners, that they will not be allowed to feel their loss. As for
the Timaru roadstead, no doubt these losses will be of immense injury to it but
we hope to see the residents pushing on their Breakwater, and even using these
sad accidents as additional spurs to their exertions to complete the
Breakwater."

[An address delivered by the author in the Theatre Royal,
Wellington, on the occasion of a performance given for the benefit of
suffers by the disaster at Timaru, in May, 1882]

1882.

Who are Earth's heroes ? Who are they that claim
A shrine immortal in their country's breast,
A niche within the citadel of fame,
Or, higher still, a home among the blest?
One answers: "They are those who in the fight
Win heav'n's approval and the world's applause ;
The men who die for justice and for right -
The men who bleed for freedom's holy cause."
Another answers: "Heroes lead the van
Of Peace and Progress in the march of mind,
And spread God's treasures at the feet of man,
And shed the rays of knowledge o'er their kind. "
Ay, these and those are heroes, true and brave,
Whose deeds and words are treasured, fond and fast -
Whose memories are untarnished by the grave ;
Heroes who build the future on the past,
And raise a stately edifice above
The Gulf of Ages, filled with blood and tears,
A human temple round whose shrine of love,
All men shall gather in the coming years.
But there are other heroes on the earth -
Heroes who often sow but never reap
The seed of glory 'til the Second Birth ;
Heroes' who often sink and fall asleep
In duty's arms, unnoticed and unknown -;
Heroes who for their fellows nobly die,
Heroes whose dirge is ocean's solemn moan,
Such are the heroes whom we honor here,
Men who have passed on to the light beyond ;
And those they held in life most true and dear,
Appeal to us for aid - shall we respond?
What were their deeds? We open up the scene�
Behold a spreading city by the sea,
Belted by sunny slopes and plains if green
And skirted by the foam of breakers- free,
That leap and dance for joy along the shore,
Racing like white-haired children on the sand,
Babbling their mother ocean's mystic lore,
Whisp'ring her secrets to the silent land.
A sabbath calm is resting o'er the place,
And souls are soaring upward from their clay.
Celestial smiles gild Nature's tranquil face,
And Thought flies far above life's little day.
Out on the sleeping waves tall vessels ride
At anchor, all is calm. Ah! will it last?
Look yonder, look! here comes a storm-spent tide;
The murmuring fury of the distant blast
Sweeps in upon us. God! we're lost! we're lost!
The boats ! the boats ! now pull for land and life !
They're off! they're safe! they land! though billows tossed
And breakers dashed around them in the strife.
But lo! along the shore the cry is raised,
" Man, man the life-boat !" and a willing band
Rush forward at the call. The crowd, amazed,
Behold the gallant fellows leave the land,
And plunge through seething surf and furious foam.
"Hurrah ! Hurrah ! God speed ye gallant hearts !"
Ah ! well might they exclaim, " God speed ye home !"
God took them home: the tear of pity starts,
But not for those who went, but those who weep
For husbands vanished, and for fathers gone;
Be ours the task to honour them that sleep,
By helping those they loved, now left alone ;
Be ours the task�nay, friends, 'tis not a task,
It is a debt of duty we've to pay.
God speaks to us when babes and widows ask ;
We hear His voice in theirs, and we obey.

by Thomas Bracken

There is another poem- only have the first two
lines.

"On Sunday fourteenth of May
No Christian rest is here today."

Timaru Herald, 2 November 1882, Page 7
The Proposed Monument.� The tender of Mr McBride, stonemason, in the sum of
�275, has been accepted for the erection of the monument to the memory of those
who lost their lives on May 14th last. The Government have given permission for
it to be placed on the vacant part, of the Post Office section in front of
Church Terrace. �200 towards its cost has already been subscribed, and the
trustees intend to make up the balance without trenching upon the Relief Fund.

An account
of the disaster appears in Gillespie's South Canterbury A Record of
Settlement. A few of the names are spelled in a differentlye.g.
Breach, Neilson, Sunaway.

A
real large painting of the Strathallan hung in the Farmer's Tearooms. The large painting (about four feet in length)
of
the
wreck of
'City of Perth' and 'Ben Venue'at Timaru
hung
for many years in the Farmers tearooms and now the painting is at the Port Company
Offices, Timaru located along Marine Parade which is located near the distal end of the
Port Loop Road a route to Caroline Bay and the harbour. The plate below the
painting read

Wreck of the
Ben Venue and City of Perth on 14 May 1882
Presented to
The Port of Timaru Ltd
by
Arthur Bradley
Last surviving son of Issac Bradley,
A member of the rescue craft's crew.

Terrible Calamity at Timaru - the day was Sunday; the sky was clear and bright, and there was absolutely no wind.

Wreck of the Ben Venue and City of
Perth. Timaru, May 14.The wreck of the Duke of Sutherland was still occupying public attention, when, this morning, it was evident that before the day closed one more disaster at least would have been
chronicled.

A mountainous sea was running, with neither wind nor rain to keep down the swell. The
Norwegian C.F. Funch (?Swedish barque C.G. Funsch) was riding easily at the
ballast-ground ( outer anchorage), but the City of Perth and the Ben Venue at
the inner anchorage, which lay off the end of the breakwater, were obviously in extreme
danger, and the schooners Kate McGregor and Julius Vogel inside the Breakwater.
About eight o'clock a reversed ensign was hoisted by the
Ben
Venue, and the gun summoning the Rocket Brigade was fired. To this signal not only the Brigade but an immense crowd of townspeople responded by making their way down speedily as possible to the breakwater.
"Do you want an anchor?" was asked of the Ben Venue about 11 o'clock by the
City of Perth. The Ben Venue hoisted "Drifting." From the signal
hoisted at intervals from the Ben Venue it was discovered that the vessel has lost one of her anchors, that her windlass had gone, and that her steering gear was crippled. About a
quarter to one it was perceived that her remaining cable had parted. The crew took to
their boats for the City of Perth, and the ship allowed to drift, which she did, running right up on to the shore at Caroline Bay, where she lies now uninjured as yet, but exposed to the fury of the waves.

About this time the City of Perth signalled for assistance, having parted both her cables. No
volunteers offered themselves on shore to put off to her until several of the crew of the lately wrecked ship
Duke of Sutherland put off in two boats, On reaching the
City of Perth they found the whole of her company anxious to leave the ship. The united crews of the
Ben Venue and City of Perth distributed themselves in the two boats from the shore and the two ship's boats, and made for land, At this time the shore was lined with thousands of
spectators. The seas were tremendous that the heavily -laden boats were swept with terrific force up to the crest of each
succeeding roller and then down into an abyss. The journey occupied nearly two hours; At length they all came safely along the breakwater. Captain Mills, the Harbour master put off immediately to her with a crew
in a whaleboat intending should a wind spring up, to take the vessel round to Lyttelton or Port Chalmers.

Very strong feelings of indignation against the Harbour Board have been freely expressed; have they failed to provide a tug service. It is satisfactory to report of the breakwater, the
monolith stood quite unmoved under the heaviest seas that has ever yet been seen at Timaru. The
signal for medical assistance run up by the City of Perth was necessitated by one if the crew having been struck so
violently on the leg by the parting cable, as to break the limb. He is reported to be the mate of the
Benvenue. On the boat reaching the shore he was at once removed to the hospital.

About 3 o'clock the City of Perth parted her hawser that was holding her and began to drift towards the shore. The sight of so magnificent a ship, laden with a valuable cargo of ten thousand sacks of grain,
drifting away, was inexpressibly shocking, but at a quarter to four the worst came.
Three boats fully manned, which had been out to the ship, now commenced to reach the shore. After pulling for a quarter of an hour, tow of them - one of which contained Captain Mills- managed to get inside the lee of the
breakwater, but the third, which was supposed to have Captain McDonald, of the
City of Perth, on board, drifted too far to the northward and got into the full force of the breakers. The tide had gone down
considerably, but with it the sea had increased. On the shallow flat of
Carline Bay the first two boats rested on their oars, and watched the fate of
Captain's McDonald's
boat. The latter got under the lee of a terrible sea and disappeared, and a minute afterwards the whole of the unfortunate crew were seen struggling in the trough of the sea. The other boats, observing what had happened to the
City of Perth's boat, immediately altered their course, but no sooner had they come within easy distance of the drowning men -the boat of Captain Mills leading the
way on this errand of mercy- than one terrific-white crested wave after another swept the foremost boat to the same sad fate. Another and still fiercer wave overwhelmed the
third boat, and the occupants shared the same fate as their companions.

Over thirty men were battling vainly for dear life in a boiling sea. Those near the wharf, consisting of members of different ship' crews, boatmen, and other plucky volunteers, immediately
rushed to the life boat shed, and managed to launch the lifeboat
through the Government landing shed. This took fifteen minutes and
during that time one by one the unfortunate castaways disappeared beneath the surface of the water.
There was no time for lifebelts, and probably not two cork jackets were taken into the boat. Andrew Shab (shoreman) was at the bow with the lifeline, and away she pulled with D. Bradley, A.J. McIntosh and four of the
City of Perth sailors.

They succeeded in reaching the drowning men after several narrow escapes. She disappeared
repeatedly under the water, but each time managed to right herself. A wave turned
her upside down but righted herself, and one by one the men managed to scramble back in. When she met the next sea there appeared to be about ten persons in her, but the oars were
adrift. The next sight was that the steersman had secured an oar. and was working gallantly to hold her head to the sea. Two of the
swamped boats were now visible; one contained five men, and other four. The lifeboat still kept riding out the seas, and it was observed from the shore
that they managed to grasp to floating oars, and with this assistance they succeed after a hard fight in reaching the shore, three or four persons less than went out in her.

Darkness now had almost set in, but another crew despite the harrowing scene
they had witnessed volunteered to take her out again to the rescue of the surf-boat, which was labouring fearfully to avoid being swamped.
The surf-boat
had saved three men, but she was now unable to reach shore, and she let go an
anchor. The lifeboat was speedily manned with a fresh volunteer crew. They pulled out to the surfboat, and
succeeded in getting some of the men out. The lifeboat capsized, five of her occupants
being swept out of her, of whom four got back. She then came ashore, and a fresh crew went out and brought the remainder of the surf boat's men back, without mishap.

Blue lights were kept burning from the lighthouse, but insufficient to give a view of the boats. This third crew - Francis
McKenzie (coxswain), George Sunnaway, W.H. Wall, and Henry Trusslot - succeeded in bringing back the remainder of the surfboat's crew, and as each lot of men were
brought on shore they were carried in blankets to the Royal Hotel. Otago Witness

No blame could be attached to Captain McDonald and his crew for abandoning the
City of Perth as when they left she was only hanging on by a hawser, her
three cables having parted one after the other. She rode by a single hawser until
3.45a.m., when she parted.
TheStar May 18th. Inquest held May 17.

Wellington. Ample warning was sent out by Captain Edwin of the weather department of the fact that a heavy sea was to be
expected in Timaru roadstead about the time it actually occurred.

The City of Cashmere, the City of Perth and
the Ben Venue were built under the same roof at Glasgow shortly after one
another and have come to grief within a short distance of one another.
The Ben Venue is now a total wreck but the City of Perth is afloat at high water and has apparently suffered no damage. Arrangements are started to be in progress for towing her out. The
breakwater suffered no damage.

The Ben Venue is high and day at low tide.
She was an iron ship of 900 tons register, and classed AA1 at Lloyd's, built by Barclay, of Glasgow, in 1867, and was owned by Watson Bros., of the same port. Her hull and freight were insured for
� 13,500 in Home offices. At the time she was wrecked she had on board 400 and 500 tons of
coal for Port Chalmers, fully insured by Mr Ebenezer Smith in the Standard Company. The City of Perth was loaded with six thousand sacks of wheat by the New Zealand Grain Agency Company.
She was insured by the Glasgow Underwriters' Association.
1880
voyage

The City of Perthis an iron vessel of 1189 tons register, is classed AA1, and is a sister ship to the unfortunate
City of Cashmere. Like that vessel she was towed down from Lyttelton by the p.s. Lyttelton. She was built in Glasgow by Connell, in 1868,
and is owned by G. Smith and Sons, Glasgow. She is, so far as we can learn, uninsured. She was loading for Home on account of the New Zealand Grain Agency and Mercantile Company (Limited) and the cargo she had on board (some 6000 sacks of grain) was fully insured in the Union Insurance Company. The vessel itself is valued at
about � 10,000.

Most of those lost were noble-hearted fellows who went to the rescue of the first boat.

George Falgar, bricklayer's labourer, Timaru. He leaves a wife and family in Timaru in destitute condition.

George Finlay

Robert Gardner, of Allour
(?of Alloa), second mate of the City of Perth, single, aged 25. He was swimming about when the rescuing boats came up, but he declined to be first attended to, and directed the
rescuers to another man who was drowning, but after all was himself lost.

Jack McIntosh, the coxswain

David McLean - of Prince Edward's
Island, carpenter on the City of Perth, a little gathering of shipmates followed his coffin. There is no one else to mourn his loss, though a wife and family at Home are as yet in ignorance of his fate.

Henry McDonald, boatman,
Timaru, leaves a wife and family.

Captain Alexander Mills, the Harbour Master,
Timaru, was a native of Arbroath, Scotland, 48 years of age. He leaves a wife and seven children fairly
provided for. Captain Mills who was alive, but expired soon afterwards.
When brought ashore from the lifeboat, he was insensible; but he recovered for a moment, and wanted to walk. He remarked,
"Let me alone, I'm all right, boys." He was carried to his home on the cliff, but died on the way.
The medical man kept up artificial respiration for an hour and a half, and then used the galvanic battery; but these remedies
unfortunately came too late. The verdict of the inquest on his body returned that he died from the effects of submersion in water while in the
execution of his duty. A Masonic Lodge member.
May 16 1882: Captain Mills is to be buried this afternoon with Masonic
honours.

A German, name unknown was seen to get into one of the boats, and he has not since been seen. This makes nine deaths.

May 16. Three of the bodies of the men lost on Sunday washed ashore near Whales' Creek, and have been conveyed to the Melville Hotel, where they await an inquest. Two have been
identified. Emanuel Neilson, a Swede, boatman, Timaru, formerly in the employ of the Harbour Board. D. McLean, the carpenter of the City of Perth
(identified by J. Lynch, boatswain of the ship) The third supposed to be Martin
Bates, boatman, Timaru. The police and others are now watching along the beach for bodies to wash ashore.

Some of the Survivors

Boatmen and sailors are not a church-going class. Their habits of life are not refined, any more than their modes of thought and speech are gentle and courteous. One lesson to be learned from the Timaru calamity -a lesson quite distinct from any likely to come out of the "Official Inquiry" is that a rough and graceless outside may conceal some of the very highest elements of manhood.- Otago Witness 20th May 1882

Mr Blacklock - first mate of the City of Perth, with a
severe compound fracture of the right leg. Amputation may be necessary. (looks
like he died soon after the event)John Bradley, a waterman, broken ribs

Press, 3 October 1936, Page 16 Mr I. J.
BRADLEY
The death has occurred in Timaru at the age of 76 of Mr Isaac James Bradley,
who was the last survivor In Timaru of those who took part in the rescue of
the crews of the ships Benvenue and City of Perth, which were wrecked at
Timaru on May 14, 1882. Mr Bradley was born at Lodden, Victoria, and came to
New Zealand with his parents while still quite young and had most of his
schooling at Hokitika. He served-his time at the carpentering trade at
Waimate before going to Timaru, where he entered the employ of the Union
Steam Ship Company as a stevedore. He worked on the waterfront for 52 years
until his retirement three years ago. After his retirement he was elected
,to the Harbour Board and served on it continuously until Ws death, though-
since March be had not taken an active part through serious illness. In his
younger days Mr Bradley was well known as an athlete and rifle shot and was
a keen member of the volunteers. For many years Mr Bradley was a member of
the directorate of the South Canterbury Caledonian Society and for a time
its president. He was die founder of the North End Golf Club and its
president for some years, and one of the' oldest members of the/Timaru
Bowling Club and a former president of the South Canterbury Bowling Centre,
He was also a member of the Timaru Domain Board at the time of his death,
and a foundation member of the Druids' Lodge. In 1914, he was made a justice
of the peace and was a staunch member of St Mary's Anglican Church, Mr
Bradley leaves a family of 10, five sons and five daughters. They are
-Messrs Percy Bradley, Arthur Bradley, Herbert Bradley, Wilfred Bradley
(Timaru), Edward Bradley (Christchurch) Mrs W. Tubb, Jun. (Timaru), Mrs D.
Scrimogeour (Ashburton), Misses Olive Bradley, Florence Bradley (Timaru),
and Rita Bradley (Masterton).

John Henicker, labourer, chest crushed, is
lying in the Royal Hotel.

D. Bradley who was working one of steer oars of
the lifeboat, saw his two brothers in the water, and he jumped overboard and saved one, the other being saved by the boat's crew. Roderick Macdonald, shipwright

Bill Collis, the Harbour Board, who acted
as coxswain, a brave staunch old Yarmouth boatman.

Another youth belonging to the City of Perth, Langridge by name, seeing that a shipmate was unable to contend with the waves through and not being a good swimmer, swam up to him, took out his sheath knife and cut the clothes off his friend, thus giving him the free use of his arms.

A special meeting of the Timaru Harbour held 15 May 1882. There were present Messrs. F. Archer (Chairman), W. Evans, T. Teschemaker, J.H. Sutter, and R. Turnbull.
William Collis was called in, and he described from the time he went out in the boat with Captain Mills till his
rescue by the lifeboat and return to the shore. The board after a short consultation appointed William Collis as
Harbour Master temporarily. Also present was the Engineer, Mr Goodall.

May 17. Star A special meeting of the Harbour Board was held yesterday.
Present - Messrs Archer, Evans, Gray, His Worship the Mayor, Turnbull, Moody, Mee, Teschemaker, Barker and M. Studholme.
Captain Dunsford, Marine Surveyor asking for surf boats to discharge the City of Perth.
Captain Charles S. Bascand appointed Harbour Master of this Port.

It was the events which followed the wrecks that lent the supreme interest to the spectacle - the fatal mishap to the boats, the heroic efforts of the life-boat's crew to reach and rescue
their perishing comrades, the long hours of terror and the suspense during which the struggle protracted.
- Otago Witness

The annual Seafarers' Service is held the third Sunday in October with a parade lead by the Timaru Municipal Brass Band including
ex-naval men, crews from one or two HMNZS vessels, the Endeavour Sea Scouts and representatives from other armed services Timaru, a wreath-laying at the
Benvenue monument then on to St Mary's for a service.

Civilians did play a part in the rescue bid. William
Pember Reeves worked up to his waist in water, he was later a famed Liberal
politician. District judge Charles Dudley Robert Ward, 55, was a big man
physically and intellectually, standing six feet and a half in height, broad
of back and massive in limb and feature. The judge plunged into the surf in
frock coat and top hat, towing a rope. Chains of men dragged survivors from
the backwash and to one of these Ward acted as anchor, his strength and
weight making him invaluable for that position.

Timaru Herald, 22 May 1882, Page 2
The Lifeboat crew. To the list of names of those who went off in the
lifeboat on her second trip on Saturday, May 14th, must be added that of
John Ivey, who works at Shears' brickyard, Timaru. He has we understand,
done duty in the lifeboat service at Home.

The Star Wednesday 24 May 1882
Timaru - OLAREN -
The body of William Olaren, boatman, one of the unfortunate fellows who was
drowned on Sunday week, washed ashore at Dashing Rock this afternoon, and
was taken charge of by the police. _____

The Star Wednesday 24 May 1882 Timaru - McLAREN -
The body of W. McLaren who was drowned on the occasion of the late wrecks,
was recovered this afternoon. Another body, believed to be that of GARDINER,
the 2nd mate of the City of Perth ______.

The Star Wednesday 24 May 1882 Wednesday 24 May 1882
Dunedin - BLACKLOCK -
Mr Blacklock, the chief officer of the City of Perth, who died
at Timaru the other day leaves a widow and family unprovided for. His widow
keeps a lodging-house in the East India Dock road, London.

Grey River Argus, 11 April 1916, Page 8
CAPTAIN.
The "Ardrossan and Saltscoat "Herald," Scotland, records the death, of Capt.
John McGowan, who was in command of the Benvenue which was wrecked at Timaru
in 18S2.
The following is an extract from an obituary notice in the paper named :
Captain McGowan took command of the clipper "Benvenue," owned by Messrs.
Watson Brothersfi Glasgow, and in this ship made a number of record passages
between Scotland and Australia, in the wool trade. This vessel was
ultimately wrecked by a great gale and tidal wave in Timaru Bay. New
Zealand, in 1882. The Timaru disaster is one of the outstanding catastrophes
in the annals of shipping. The "Benvenue" and "City of Perth" were anchored
in the bay when the storm broke, and the ships were destroyed. In an attempt
to save the crew of the "City of Perth," a life boat with the harbourmaster
and six men was lost. Captain McGowan succeeded in bringing all his men
ashore in his ship's boats. Captain McGowan was a man of wide reading, and
was possessed of considerable mathematical ability and inventive genius.
Only a few days before he passed away he was discussing the usefulness of an
edition of Burn's poems, adapted for American readers. He had always the
courage of his-political convictions and never wavered in his belief in
Liberalism. The local organisation will sadly miss his cheery optimism and
active co-operation. Memories of Captain McGowan will always conjure up a
lovable kindly, warm-hearted townsman. He is survived by a widow and two
sons. The elder, Captain William McGowan. is at present in command of
H.M.A.S. Gilgan, and the younger Captain Archie McGowan, is serving with the
18th Battalion Highland Light Infantry.

Timaru Herald,
4 June 1919, Page 8 MR W. H.
WALL
There passed away yesterday at his late residence, Edward Street, Timaru, a
very old resident of Timaru, Mr William Henry Wall, at the age of 72 M.A.).
reported, that the roll number England, came to New Zealand while a young
man, and shortly after his arrival joined the railway service, where he
remained until his retirement a few years ago. When the Benvenue and City of Perth were
wrecked in the Timaru roadstead in May, 1882, Mr Wall was a, member of one
of the boat crews which put out to the rescue, and his name is inscribed on
the monument erected in, Sophia Street to commemorate the heroism of the
rescuers. Mr Wall is survived by his widow and a grown-up family. Deceased's
eldest .son, Mr W. Wall served in the Boer war, and was killed in the war
just ended.

Timaru Herald Wednesday 8 November 1899
The New Zealand Shipping Company's ship Turakina, formerly
well-known here as the City of Perth, which was sold to Norwegian
owners, has had her name altered to Elida, and is registered AA1
at Lloyd's. Her misadventure at Timaru 17 years ago did not do her much harm.

Harbourmaster's papers donated. 21 November 2001 Timaru Herald

Anyone who ever doubted the competency of
early Timaru harbourmaster Alexander Mills should take a look at the South
Canterbury museum's latest acquisitions. Captain Mills was harbourmaster
from 1868 until he died on Black Sunday, May 14 1882, the day both the
Benvenue and the City of Perth were wrecked on what are now known
as the Benvenue Cliffs. He died after his unsuccessful attempts to save the
City of Perth. His grandchildren Leslie and Lance Dixon of
Christchurch visited the local museum several months ago. On a return visit
over the weekend they donated a number of documents museum director Philip
Howe describes as "incredibly significant". Among them are the indenture
papers of both Captain Mills (1847), and of his father-in-law Alexander
Sinclair (1812). Also donated by the relatives were Captain Mills' master's
certificate of competency, and his certificate of appointment as Timaru's
harbourmaster. Such documents are interesting as Captain Mills apparently
fell out of favour with the harbour board prior to the shipwrecks. Mr Howe
said the harbourmaster often insisted on ships berthing further out where he
considered they were safer, while the businessmen who ran the Landing
Service Building were keen to have them come closer in where they could be
unloaded more quickly. Several weeks before the two ships were wrecked the
board had given him notice. When applications were called for the post,
Captain Mills was reappointed - only 11 days before the shipwrecks. A
history of the Port of Timaru published in 1955 notes his death caused
considerable bitterness in the community. While it suggests he died from
exhaustion, the coroner's inquest offers exposure as the likely cause of
death. The indenture documents are also important as the museum has few
employment-related documents from that era. The document covers matters
relating to virtually every aspect of the apprentice's life during his three
year apprenticeship - including keeping his secrets, not hurting his master
or allowing anyone else to do so, not frequenting ale houses or taverns
unless on the master's business, not getting married, or embezzling or
wasting his master's goods.

Headstones for Unmarked Graves Timaru Herald 14 May 2007

Graves unacknowledged for over a century were
yesterday given fitting tributes. A ceremony in the Timaru cemetery
yesterday morning saw the unveiling of a headstone and memorial plaques,
thanks to years of effort by Dunedin man John Bradley. The discovery that
his grandfather, Phillip Bradley, lay in an unmarked grave saw the retired
headmaster decide to set the situation to rights. Phillip Bradley's parents
brought their family to South Canterbury in the 1870s, having previously
lived in Melbourne, the West Coast of New Zealand and Nelson. The headstone
marks the resting place of Phillip Bradley, his wife Eliza Anne, and Phillip
Junior. Phillip built many residential, commercial and industrial structures
around Timaru, including his own two-storeyed home at 22 King Street and a
shop on Marine Parade. He was Clerk of Works during the construction of the
Eastern Extension of the harbour breakwater. Phillip built boats and worked
as a boatman/waterman for the Timaru Harbour Board. Eliza Anne died in
November 1929 at the age of 74, and was buried with her infant son, who died
in 1882 aged just four months. When Phillip died in 1936, he was survived by
his five children -- Charles, Henry, Annie, Eveline, May and George. All
except George remained in Timaru and are buried in the cemetery.

"For some unknown reason, no memorial stone was erected to Phillip and his
family on this site. Seventy years after his death this has now been
rectified." A plaque also marks the 150th anniversary of Phillip's arrival
in New Zealand, and the 125th anniversary of the sinking of the Benvenue and
the City of Perth in Caroline Bay on May 14, 1882. Members of the Bradley
family were major participants in the rescues involving the Benvenue and the
City of Perth on Caroline Bay. "It is (a tale) of great bravery, involving
skilled inshore handling of small craft, in storm conditions. Four members
of the extended Bradley family were major participants that day -- Daniel,
Phillip, Isaac, and brother-in-law George Sunaway, husband of sister Ann."

A second plaque marks the graves of two members of the Shirley family, a
mystery uncovered during Mr Bradley's researches. Mr Bradley told
yesterday's gathering that when he obtained burial information for the site
-- Block A, Plot 48, he found noted on the document the burial of a child,
eight-month-old Elizabeth Shirley, who was interred on May 16, 1875.
"This was a mystery as the ownership of this space was recorded as the
Bradley plot." Two years later, Mr Bradley discovered that in the adjacent
plot, number 49, her mother, also Elizabeth Shirley, aged 25, had been
interred four days later. "After four years of attempting to trace their
family details and any connection with our family, I have little to add. All
I have sighted are two small postcard type photographs, among our family
collection, of her husband John Richard Shirley. "I was left with the
knowledge that a young infant was buried with members of our family. Her
mother was buried in the adjacent plot. Both were unmarked. I believed they
deserved better than that. I therefore resolved to add to our family
memorial, this plaque, in remembrance of these two young people, and to also
acknowledge their husband and father who had lost members of his family."

Timaru Herald, 25 May 1882, Page 2
An inquest touching the death of John William McLaren, who was drowned m the
port, on May 14th, was held at the Melville Hotel yesterday afternoon,
before B. Woollcombe, Esq., J.P. (Coroner), and a jury, of whom Mr R. B.
Walcot was chosen foreman. I he following evidence was taken : � Philip E.
Thoreau: I am a constable, stationed at Timbre. Yesterday afternoon, about
half-past two o'clock, while out at Splashing Point, I observed the body now
lying here, floating in the surf off the rocks. About �n hour afterwards it
was washed ashore m among the rocks. I had it brought to this hotel. Philip
Hradley : I am a licensed waterman living m Timaru. I lure seen (he body
lying at this hotel and identify it as that of John William McLaren He was a
seaman by profession, wns aged 32, and was unmarried. Ht had been out m the
colony about three years. On May 14th he went afloat with me m a boat to the
City of Perth, following Captain Mills, the late Harbor Master. The
Teasel was lying m the roadstead, and hanging by a hawser, which she parted
shortly after he got on board. We then left for the shore. We got inside the
Breakwater, when another boat which was following us capsized and we put
back to its assistance, and after picking one man up our own boat was
swamped, burst open, and capsized. I saw McLaren get into the ship's
lifeboat, out of which he was washed several times. I then left for the
shore. When I last saw him he was bleeding profusely from a wound on the
temple and shouting out " Save me." I identify the body as his by the
clothing. The jury returned a verdict that the deceased met his death by
drowning, on May 14th, while courageously attempting to care the lives of
others.

Timaru Herald, 30 May 1882, Page 3
The adjourned inquest touching the deaths of Emmanuel Neilson, Day id
Maclean and another who were drowned m the roadstead on Sunday, May 14th,
was resumed at the Melville Hotel yesterday afternoon, before Joseph Beswick,
Esq., Coroner, and a jury previously sworn in, Mr B. R. Taylor being
foreman. The following evidence was taken :
Patrick Smith Brady: I am a constable stationed at Timaru.
Ralph Satchwell: I am a constable of police stationed at Timaru.
Charles Moore : I am a seaman. I went out in the whaleboat with Captain
Mills to the City of Perth on the 14th inst. and which capsized. I knew
Emmanuel Neilson. He was one of the whaleboat's crew. At the time we got
capsized we were going back to the assistance of another boat. I did not see
Neilson after our boat capsized.
William Collis: I recollect Sunday, May 14th, and the City of Perth being
abandoned by her crew. I went with Captain Mills in a whaleboat to try and
save the ship. Neilson was in our boat (the whaleboat). I did not see him
after we were swamped. I saw Maclean (who bad been in the ship's lifeboat)
as we put back. He was swimming strong, and sang out, "Never mind me, and
waved us to go on and pick up another man.
Charles Staton: I work the beach occasionally.
Inspector Pender said this was all the evidence he could bring forward.
The police had done all they could to identify the third body at that of
Bates, but without avail, as it was impossible to recognise him. The Coroner
briefly addressed the jury as to the facts before them, adding that in the
case of the unidentified body they must say "found drowned." The following
verdict was returned: "That D. Maclean was drowned on the 14th May through
the accidental upsetting of the City of Perth's lifeboat; that Emmanuel
Neilson was drowned through the upsetting of a boat while courageously
attempting to to save life and that on the body unknown a verdict of ' found
drowned ' is returned."

Timaru Herald, 20 April 1882, Page 3
THE HARBORMASTER.
To the Editur of ther Timaru Hearald.
Dear Sur, I am a laberin' man, havin' come here in search of wurk by
steemer Witaki. I have notissed in your valuble paper an advertizement fur
Harbormaster fur Timaru. I "no" a good deal about harbers, havin' _oded
ships at Melburn, Sidney, and elsewhere ; and thinkin' by the screw offered
(�3OO a year) that it wood not be rekisite to know much moare than a wurkin'
man at that price, I would beg to ask throu your valuble collems if, in
addition to that salary, they wood allow me to do a little bit of
steveloring on my own account, purvidin I was apinted. I hear a locle man is
not wanted or wun who knows anythin' about the harbor. Talents o "deserve"
the place will be "deservedly" _nubbed. Then I can handel my fists. I won't
have no skippers gassin' nround with heir protests. Me and my mate " Souter
Johny " wil undertake to clear that Breakwater of any discontented
"leaguers" in no time. Besides, we will be at the serviss of the man that
apints me at any Board meetin'. woodent stand the nonsense of some on em. I
wood ax you, Mr Editur, to state _listinctly wether the job is open to men
of my standin'.
I am, &c,
J. N. Fleming, Laberer.
Timaru, April 18th, 1883.
[We must refer our correspondent to the Harbor Board. We should say he has a
very good chance, of getting the situation he aspires to. ED. T.H.]

Timaru Herald, 20 April 1882, Page 3
THE Editor of the Timaru Herald
Sir, have been waiting, expecting some one with a more powerful pen than I
possess, to take up the cudgels on behalf of Captain Mills, our present
Harbormaster. Judging from the numerous and in most instances strong
expressions of opinion which one hears from all classes of the community, I
do not think those members of the Harbor Board who have, for some reasons of
their own, been the means of getting him unshipped, any reason to be proud
of their action. On the contrary, if they heard even some of the mildest
terms in which opinions on their doings are expressed, they -would fool
heartily ashamed of themselves. They make a great mistake if they think
there are no people in Timaru who can see as far through a brick wall as
they can, and take their professions of "public policy" for what they are
worth. As they could bring no charge of in competency or neglect �barring
the case of the "City of Cashmere, for the loss of which vessel Captain
Mills was no way to blame � against the Harbormaster they seek refuge in "
public policy." I take it that the "public" feel anything but fluttered or
pleased at such a "policy" being saddled with such a name. "Public," egad !
Well, if it is, we have precious little roaring to wish it aired to the
world at large, and may well cry " Save us from our friends" (?enemies) for
doing so. If Captain Mills is to blame for the loss of the City of Cashmere,
how is it that all the masters of other vessels which have come here since
have not only spoken so highly of him but have placed the most implicit
confidence and trust in him ? Can Mr Turnbull, or Mr Evans, or any other of
his detractors, point to one single instance of the master of a vessel in
Timaru calling in question Captain Mills' judgment or his suitability for
his position? No; nor can they, on the other hand, bring forward one but who
will give him the highest character. ... I am, &c, Timaru.

Oh! Sunday fourteenth of May
No Christian rest is here today."

The Benvenue was an iron full rigged ship of 999
tons. Built in 1867 by Messrs. Barclay, Curle and Company of Glasgow, she was
wrecked at Caroline Bay, Timaru in May 1882. Photo ca 1880, ATL.